The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation revealed a YouTube channel on Monday to help keep drivers up to date on road conditions, according to a news release.

So far on the channel, users can find:

• Time lapse video from the May 9 tanker fire at the Interstate 81 and U.S. 22/322 interchange;
• Educational and safety videos; and
• Features on PennDOT operations and initiatives.

Since the department launched its official Twitter account – @PennDOTNews – in 2010, they’ve gained more than 11,000 followers. The PennDOT Facebook page, which was launched in September 2012, has more than 12,000 “likes.”

How often do you check on PennDOT’s pages for information?

Security officers from HACC and members of the York City Police Department joined forces Friday, May 17, 2013, for an active shooter exercise at HACC’s York Campus. Organizing the training are from left, HACC Interim Security Director Edwin Dominguez, York City Police Chief Wes Kahley, York Police Capt. Ron Camacho and Interim Assistant Director of Security for HACC’s York Campus, Oriali Rivera. PHOTO SUBMITTED

Several police departments took part in active shooter drills in an effort to be prepared should any such incident take place at schools within their jurisdictions.

Security officers from Harrisburg Area Community College’s York campus and members of the York City Police Departmentconducted an active shooter drill Friday at the George M. Leader Building at HACC’s York Campus, according to a news release.

The exercise, coordinated and led by York City Police Captain Ron Camacho, brought together more than 30 officers from the two departments. Camacho also is the commander of York County Quick Response Team and a senior police training associate for International Police Training and Consulting Services, based in Tempe, Ariz, the release states.

“We are partners in ensuring the safety of the campus,” Edwin Dominguez, HACC’s interim security director said in the news release. “In the event of a crisis, the York City Police Department has jurisdiction. Establishing guidelines for protocol during emergency situations allows the two teams to work together as a seamless operation.”

The all-day training included opening remarks by York City Police Chief Wes Kahley, classroom instruction and the active shooter exercise. Because the campus is closed on Friday’s during the summer, there were no students of faculty present.

“Taking the steps to work together before a major incident occurs ensures that the stage is set for success,” Kahley said in the news release.

An active shooter exercise was also was conducted at Central York High School in Springettsbury Township. It involved officers from the township, Northern York Regional Police, Hellam Township Police, Spring Garden Township Police and York Area Regional Police, as well as  dispatch personnel  from York County 911, according to a news release.

The exercise focused on coordinated response and communication issues. Springettsbury Police Chief Thomas Hyers described the exercise as an overall success. He also stressed that exercises of this type highlight the need for law enforcement agencies to continue to actively train together to address the potential need for a coordinated response to a major critical incident anywhere in the region.

The law is changing this fall.

Maryland’s current cell phone ban is a secondary offense, meaning that police have to stop the driver for another violation before a ticket can be issued for the cell phone infraction.

But starting Oct. 1, the ban becomes a primary offense, meaning that police simply can pull over drivers officers see using a cell phone, said Buel Young, spokesman for the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. No other offense is needed.

The law does permit drivers to make a call while stopped at a traffic light, he said. But a call is not allowed while in motion.

However, drivers can use a hands-free device, Young said.

It will give some teeth to the enforcement element, he said.

If you get caught, the ticket is $75 for the first offense, $125 for the second offense and $175 for the third or subsequent offense, Young said. There are no points.

Do you travel to Maryland? What do you think of the cell phone ban?

Jerry Stroble, a firefighter with York Area United Fire and Rescue, shows the variety of water rescue equipment the department has on hand. Stroble is holding a ResQ Disc, which can be thrown like a frisbee with a 20-foot rope attached. ( YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS–JASON PLOTKIN)

A Fire Prevention and Safety Grant awarded to York Area United Fire and Rescue in 2009 has helped supply Spring Garden and Springettsbury township residents with more than 400 free smoke alarms, according to a news release issued Wednesday.

The funding was to support the Proactive Residential Information Distribution Effort (PRIDE) program to ensure a working smoke alarm in every single family residence.

Since then, firefighters have gone door-to-door to check for smoke alarms, provide a new alarm or battery if required, and hand out fire safety literature.  If occupants were not home, the literature provided information to contact the fire department for a return visit.

The fire department’s goal was to visit every home within five years but completed it in three.  Firefighters visited 12,114 homes, leaving fire safety literature at every home and distributing 490 smoke alarms and 182 batteries, the news release states.

Fire Chief Robert McCoy stated, “It is critical that residents receive early warning of a fire through the presence of working smoke alarms.  The program was well received by our residents and I am proud of the efforts of our personnel.  The Department will continue to provide smoke alarms and batteries, free of charge.”

YAUFR has expanded the program to include Manchester Township, with completion projected for this year.  Any resident needing a smoke alarm, battery or fire safety literature can contact McCoy’s office at 717-718-2383.

The Stewartstown Railroad Company is leasing one of its locomotives to Steam Into History Inc. (YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS — PAUL KUEHNEL)

The Stewartstown Railroad hasn’t been in the news lately, but it will be again soon as one of its locomotives will be put to use in New Freedom.

Stewartstown Railroad is leasing its No. 10 locomotive — a 44-ton diesel-electric made by General Electric – to Steam Into History Inc. for its use with its steam train, said David Williamson, president of the railroad.

The company has been working steadily on the locomotive to get it ready, Williamson said. It should move to New Freedom in mid-May.

Steam Into History will be running a replica of a Civil War era steam train along the Northern Central Railway between New Freedom and Hanover Junction. A steam locomotive built in Illinois could arrive later this month.

The nonprofit has plans to build turntables for the train, but that work will not be done until later. In the meantime, the train will be pushed and pulled by locomotives.

Meanwhile, the Stewartstown Railroad continues to work with the estate of George M. Hart to negotiate a settlement. The railroad owes $350,000 to the estate.

“We are collecting money from our new investors to make the final payment,” Williamson wrote in an email. “We are looking for a couple more investors to finish this up.”

By the way, National Train Day is this weekend, and the station will be open both days, Williamson said. Hours will be 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Rides on small railcars will be offered; fare is $6 per seat. For more information, visit National Train Day.

I started with York City Post Office. I called a number listed on hoursmap.com. That number is no longer in service. I called the U.S. Postal Service and searched through their automated system. I got a number. I called it. That number is no longer in service.

I drove to 200 South George Street. In the lobby, a worker gave me a number for a customer representative at the East York Post Office — that’s where most of the delivery and administrative services for the York City Post Offices are located.

Letters arrive at the York City Post Office. It seems, however, phone calls do not. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS — FILE)

I called the rep. She wasn’t in.

I searched for a main line at East York. I called the number. It went straight to an automated message.

The machine reeled off a couple of messages. I waited on the line to leave a message. The line went dead. It was after 5 p.m. I decided to call them back the next day during business hours.

I called around 3:30 p.m. Same result.

So now, I’m writing them a letter. I plan to hand-deliver it.

They used Camp Betty Washington, then turned onto Springwood Road to head to Chapel Church Road.  Near Chapel Church Road, they saw a sign that the road is closed 1,000 feet ahead.

Springwood Road closed April 1 so crews can remove a bridge and replace it with a concrete box culvert, according to a news release from the state Department of Transportation. The road will remain closed for up to 90 days.

PennDOT sent out a news release about the closure before it happened.

The Wisnewskis of York Township had to turn around and travel the whole way back to Springettsbury Township to get around the closure.

“There’s no short, easy way around it,” Roxanne Wisnewski said.

She wondered why officials didn’t put up a sign at the intersection where Camp Betty Washington and Springwood roads meet to warn drivers of the upcoming road closure.

Wisnewski also mentioned that the owner of the Red Lion restaurant where she and her husband went also said customers have been complaining about the closure.

Have you run into the same problem or similar problem?

These volunteers from York Traditions Bank cleaned up Eastern Boulevard a few years ago as part of the Great American Cleanup. Left to right: Lisa Wilkins, Victoria Ermakov, Maddy Gingerich, Deb Dixon, Kathy Eveler, Shawna Wagner. (Submitted)

Nearly 10 years ago, I wrote a story about what state Department of Transportation employees find while “spring cleaning” the roads.

Ladies’ underwear, discarded guns, needles, briefcases, and money is just a sampling of what have picked up.

Many volunteers participate in the annual spring cleaning of the roads, and it’s not too late to join in. The Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania effort runs through May 31, according to a PennDOT news release.

Those interested in helping can find a listing of cleanup events, resources for organizing a cleanup and other information about the effort online at the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania.

My co-worker, Rebecca LeFever, wrote earlier this month about how the Heritage Rail Trail County Park in the York area could use a little spring cleaning, too.  She also saw some ladies’ undergarments.

Have you ever participated in one of these cleanups? What is the grossest thing you have ever found?

To the right of the recent 911 wall is the memorial garden where firefighters and police officer who died in the line of duty are honored. DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS — FILE

The York County Police Heritage Museum and the York County Department of Emergency Services will host a memorial service 11 a.m. May 17 for local officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The service allows members of law enforcement, emergency services and the public to remember and recognize the York County officers who have been killed, according to a news release.

The service will be in front of the county’s memorial wall at the York County Department of Emergency Services Center, 120 Davies Drive in Springettsbury Township.

According to the National Law Enforcement Memorial website, 60,000 officers were assaulted last year. During that time, 175 were killed, four of those in Pennsylvania.

Local officers who will be honored May 17 include Officer Curtis D. Sowers who served with the former North York Borough Police Department; Patrolman Henry C. Schaad of York City Police; Deputy Edward Schoeder Jr. with the York County Sheriff’s Department, and Officer David Tome with Northern York County Regional Police.

Also to be honored is David Grove from the state Game Commission and the State Motor Police Private Dean Zeigler. On Oct. 11, 1942, Zeigler was killed in a crash three miles north of Dillsburg. The State Motor Police is now part of State Police.

For more information about the event, call the heritage museum chairman, Cpl. James Thomas with Lower Windsor Township Police at 717-244-8055.

Photo made available by DEA

Northern York County Regional Police  and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your medications for disposal between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to the Giant Food Store at 2130 Palomino Road in Dover Township.  The service is free and anonymous.

According to a news release, “Last April, Americans turned in 376,593 pounds—188 tons—of prescription drugs at nearly 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,000 state and local law enforcement partners.

“This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in theU.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

“Four days after the first Take-Back event in September 2010, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them.  The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances.  DEA has begun drafting regulations to implement the Act, a process that can take as long as 24 months.  Until new regulations are in place, local law enforcement agencies like the Northern York County Regional Police and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events every few months.”